Tensioning assembly

ABSTRACT

A tensioning assembly for applying tension to a line including a hub configured to rotate in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharge the line out of the hub in a second direction, is disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a tensioning assembly, and more particularly to a tensioning assembly having, among other things, a hub having an orifice for lateral discharge of a tensioning line.

Modern tensioning, tie down, or pulley assemblies including ratchet buckles, turn buckles, cam buckles, over-center buckles, winches, and similar devices used to secure cargo are usually of two types: (1) those that utilize a round line such as a rope, cable, or cord of a synthetic, natural fiber, metal, or plastic construction, or those that utilize (2) a flat strap commonly called webbing, likewise constructed of a synthetic, natural fiber, metal or composite construction.

A typical ratchet assembly includes a rotatable hub, spool, wheel, or sheave with a plurality of outwardly-extending teeth for engagement with a spring-loaded pawl. As the spool is rotated in one direction, a line, such as a cord, rope, or cable, is wrapped around the spool so as to apply a tension to the line. As the spool rotates, the pawl incrementally engages the teeth to prevent the spool from rotating in the opposite direction due to the tension from the line.

Although tensioning assemblies are well known, it would be desirable to provide an improved tensioning assembly for applying a tension to a line in an efficient and consistent manner.

SUMMARY

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, exemplary concepts have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such concepts may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one concept as taught herein without necessarily achieving other concepts as may be taught or suggested herein.

In one embodiment, a tensioning assembly for applying tension to a line includes a hub configured to rotate in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharge the line out of the hub in a second direction.

In another embodiment, a method of tensioning a line includes rotating a hub in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharging the line out of the hub in a second direction.

These and other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the various embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not being limited to any particular embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally showing a tensioning assembly in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view generally showing the tensioning assembly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the tensioning assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows various parts of the tensioning assembly of FIG. 1 laid out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will now be described with references to the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein in not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain embodiments. Furthermore, various embodiments (whether or not specifically described herein) may include novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing any of the embodiments herein described.

The present disclosure relates generally to pulley mechanism, and more particularly to a tensioning assembly having, among other things, a hub having an orifice for lateral discharge of a tensioning line.

As used herein, the term “hub” is intended to include a spool, a wheel, a sheave, or a similar type article(s) that is configured or may be adapted to permit rotation of the hub to facilitate tensioning of a “line” used for the purpose of applying tension to secure a “load”.

As used herein, the term “line” is intended to include a rope, a cable, a cord, flat line (webbing), anchor line or tensioning line (as used herein), or a similar type of article(s) that may be adapted to be used with the tensioning assembly disclosed herein for the purpose of applying tension to secure a “load”.

As used herein, the term“load” or “cargo” is intended to include any item or items that are generally secured to prevent movement of the item(s) while in a static position, or while being moved or transport from one position to another position.

The tensioning assembly described herein provides, among other things, an improved tensioning assembly having a relatively small “footprint”, and side or a lateral discharge of a line after the line passes through the hub for applying a tension to the line in an efficient and consistent manner.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally showing a tensioning assembly in accordance with one embodiment, FIG. 2 shows another perspective view the tensioning assembly of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the tensioning assembly of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows various parts of the tensioning assembly of FIG. 1 laid out.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the tensioning assembly 5 includes a hub or spindle 10 constructed from metal, plastic, composite, or other suitable material for providing a rigid and sturdy structure to facilitate wrapping of a line used for the purpose of applying tension to secure a load around the hub 10.

The hub 10 may be cast, formed, or molded as a single elongated integral structure having a generally circular shape when viewed in profile, or as shown in FIG. 4, the hub 10 may include a first hub section 15 and a second hub section 20. The second hub section 20 is structurally substantially the same as the first hub section 15 and configured to mate with the first hub section 15 along mating surfaces to form a generally enlongated hub body 25 having a substantially circular shape when viewed from a first side 30 (profile) as shown in FIG. 2. A second side 35 of the hub body is positioned opposite the first side 30 of the hub body.

The hub body 25 includes a right protrusion 40 and a left protrusion 45 opposite the right protrusion 40. The right and left protrusions 40, 45 are disposed to encircle the hub body 25 and configured to form a depression or trough 50 of sufficient depth to generally retain a line 155 that is wrapped aroung the hub body 25 when tensioning the line 155 during the method or process of securing of a load.

The hub body 25 further includes a first orifice 60 extending from at least one of the first side 30 of the hub body or the second side 35 of the hub body to an approximate midpoint 65 of the hub body where a second orifice 70 formed between the mating surfaces of the first hub section 15 and the second hub section 20 connects with the first orifice 60. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 3, the second orifice 70 extends in a first direction “A”, and the first orifice 60 extends in a second direction “B” that is generally perpendicular to the first direction “A”. As a result, the first orifice 60 and second orifice 70 form a general “L” shaped pass-through, tube, or channel 75 within the hub body 25 that extends from the approximate midpoint 65 of the hub body and exits out of either the first side 30 of the hub body or the second side 35 of the hub body providing for lateral discharge of a line 155 (described below).

In another embodiment, the first orifice 60 may extend in the second direction “B” through the entire hub body 25 from the first side 30 of hub body to the second side 35 of the hub body. In this regard, the first orifice 60 connects with the second orifice 70 to form a generally “T” shaped pass-through, tube, or channel 80 within the hub body 25 providing for lateral discharge of a line 155 (described below) either from the first side 30 of the hub body or the second side 35 of the hub body.

The tensioning assemby 5 further includes a first gear 85 having a center orifice configured to dispose the first gear 85 on the first side 30 of the hub body 25, and a second gear 90 having a center orifice configured to dispose the second gear 90 on the second side 35 of the hub body 25. Each of the first and second gears 85, 90 include a plurality of teeth 95 to engage with a drive pawl 100 and a main pawl 120 described below.

The tensioning assembly 5 further includes a right base frame 105 having a center orifice configured to dipose the right base frame 105 on the first side 30 of hub body adjacent the first gear 85, and a left base frame 110 having a center orifice configured to dispose the left base frame 110 on the second side 35 adjacent the second gear 90. The right base frame 105 and left base frame 110 are spaced apart by a main pawl spring/spacer 115 that further biases a main pawl 120 against the first and second gears 85, 90.

The tensioning assemby 5 further includes a right handle frame 125 having a center orifice configured to dispose the right handle frame 125 on the first side 30 of the hub body adjacent the right base frame 105, and a left handle frame 130 having a center orifice configured to dispose the left handle frame 130 on the second side 35 adjacent the left base frame 110. The right handle frame 125 and the left handle frame 130 are spaced apart by a drive pawl release/spring/spacer 135 that further biases the drive pawl 100 against the first and second gears 85, 90.

In this regard, the drive pawl 100 is biased by the drive pawl spring 135 to engage the first and second gear 85, 90 and to rotate the first and second gear 85, 90 upon rotation of the right handle frame 125 and left handle frame 130. The drive pawl 100 is disengaged or urged away from the first and second gears 85, 90 upon manual bias of drive pawl release 135 in a direction away from the drive pawl 100.

Hardware such as screws, fasteners, clips, etc., shown as reference 140 may be configured, utilized, and received into appropiately sized openings in the tensioning assembly 5 to secure the various parts of the tensioning assembly 5 into a working assembly for the purpose of applying tension to a line to secure a load. The tensioning assembly 5 further includes an anchor line 145 attached to the main pawl spacer 115. The anchor line 145 includes a hook or other suitable mechanism 150 for securing one end of the tensioning assembly 5 by the anchor line 145 to a relatively stationary object.

A tensioning line 155 is further included in the tensioning assembly 5. Similar to the anchor line 145, the tensioning line 155 includes a hook or other suitable mechanism 150 for securing the opposite end of the tensioning assembly 5 by the tensioning line 155 to a relatively stationary object. The tensioning line 155, as well as the anchor line 145, is intended to include a rope, a cable, a cord (type IV paracord for example) made of a synthetic or natural fiber, metal or plastic, or similar type of “line” having at least some load bearing ability.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tensioning line 155 enters the hub 10 in the first direction “A” through the second orifice 70 formed at the approximate midpoint 65 of the hub body at the mating surfaces of the first hub section 15 and the second hub section 20. The tensioning line 155 continuously extends from the first orifice 70 along the pass-through, tube, or channel 80 that permits the tensioning line 155 to exit laterally in the second direction “B” out of the first side 30 of the hub 10 or the second side 35 of the hub 10. In this regard, channel 80, or for that matter channel 75, permits the tensioning line 155 to move back-and-forth freely between the second orifice 70 and either orifice formed at the first side 30 of the hub 10 or the second side 35 of the hub.

A method or process of tensioning a load with the tensioning assembly 5 typically includes securing the hook 150 of the tensioning line 155 to a relatively stable, secure, or stationary object, or typically, if two or more tensioning assemblies 5 are used at least one hook 150 may be attached directly to the load. Pass the tensioning line 155 over, around, about, etc. a load that is intended to be secured with the tensioning assembly 5. Secure the hook 150 of the anchor line 145 to another relatively, stable, secure, or stationary object. Remove excess slack that may be present in the tensioning line 155 by pulling an end of the tensioning line 155 opposite the end having the hook 155 so that the tensioning line 155 is pulled through the first orifice 60, along the pass-through or channel 80, and laterally out from either the first side 30 of the hub or laterally out the second side 35 of the hub in the second direction. Tension the anchor line 145 and tensioning line 155 of the tensioning assembly 5 by ratcheting, rotating, or otherwise moving the right and left handle frames 125, 130 about the hub 10 to engage the drive pawl 100 with the first and second gears 85, 90. During initial tensioning of the anchor line 145 and the tensioning line 155, a portion of the tensioning line 155 disposed between the hook 150 and the first orifice 60 is received or disposed in the trough 50 in the first direction. As tensioning of the anchor line 145 and the tensioning line 155 progresses or continues, more of the tensioning line 155 is received and becomes disposed in the trough 50 eventually overlapping with the earlier disposed tensioning line 155 to encircle the hub 10, shorten the line in the first direction, and secure the tensioning line 155 about the hub 10.

Release of tension that was placed on the anchor line 145 and tensioning line 155 is accomplished by the application of a force on the drive pawl release 135 to bias the drive pawl 100 away from the first and second gears 85, 90 to disengage the drive pawl 100 from the first and second gears 85, 90. In this regard, right and left handle frames 125, 130 are rotated to a position so that an outside edge (cam) of the right and left handle frames 125, 130 engage the drive pawl 100 resulting in the drive pawl 100 disengaging from the first and second gears 85, 90. After the drive pawl 100 is disengaged from the first and second gears 85, 90 the right and left handle frames 125, 130 are rotated to induce slack into the tensioning line 155. The hooks 150 on the ends of the anchor line 145 and tensioning line 155 may then be unsecured and the tensioning assembly 5 removed from the load.

As such, the subject matter disclosed herein provides for an improved tensioning assembly that allows for placement of the tensioning assembly onto a line in an optimum, user defined, and random location to permit the application of tension to secure a load in a safe, efficient, and consistent manner.

Improvements over known tensioning assemblies are realized in the tensioning assembly disclosed herein by way of a hub configured to permit a side or a lateral discharge of the line after the line passes through the hub of the tensioning assembly.

Further improvements over known tensioning assemblies are realized in the tensioning assembly disclosed herein by enabling the random placement of the tensioning assembly onto a length of line without concern for spooling capacity of the hub and further to enable storage of the loose end of the line should the length of line be longer than what is needed to secure the load.

Furthermore, as the hub of the tensioning assembly disclosed herein is relatively smaller when compared to the hub of a traditional tensioning assembly. The actual “footprint” or size of the tensioning assembly disclosed herein may be smaller when compared to the footprint of known tensioning assemblies. A relatively smaller footprint permits placement and use of the tensioning device disclosed herein in confined locations.

Improvements over known tensioning assemblies may be further realized as the tensioning assembly disclosed herein may permit self extraction of the non-load bearing line that allows for continual tensioning and hub take-up movement without the detrimental risk of reaching maximum hub take-up capacity of the line during the application of tension to the line to secure a load.

Although the method(s)/step(s) are illustrated and described herein as occurring in a certain order, the specific order, or any combination or interpretation of the order, is not required. Obvious modifications will make themselves apparent to those skilled in the art, all of which will not depart from the essence of the disclosed subject matter, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tensioning assembly for applying tension to a line, the assembly, comprising: a hub configured to rotate in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharge the line out of the hub in a second direction.
 2. The tensioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub includes a first hub section and a second hub section each having substantially the same structure and mated together along mating surfaces with a first orifice formed between the mating surfaces to receive the line within the hub in the first direction.
 3. The tensioning assembly of claim 2, wherein the hub further includes a second orifice to discharge the line from within the hub in the second direction.
 4. The tensioning assembly of claim 1, wherein subsequent line received in the first direction is overlapped on an exterior of the hub in the first direction as the hub is rotate to wrap the line about the hub.
 5. The tensioning assembly of claim 4, wherein receiving of the line about the hub results in the shortening a length of the line in the first direction.
 6. The tensioning assembly of claim 4, further includes a trough formed on the exterior of the hub, the overlapped line being disposed therein.
 7. The tensioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the trough includes spaced apart protrusions that encircle the hub.
 8. The tensioning assembly of claim 7, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart on opposite sides of an orifice formed in the hub to receive the line in the first direction.
 9. The tensioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub includes an elongated hub body extending in the second direction, the hub body having a first orifice positioned at an approximate midpoint along the hub body to receive the line in the first direction, and a second orifice positioned to discharge the line in the second direction.
 10. The tensioning assembly of claim 9, wherein the first direction and second direction are perpendicular to each other and the first orifice and the second orifice connect to each other to form an “L” shaped channel within the hub body.
 11. The tensioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the second orifice extends completely through the hub body in the second direction.
 12. The tensioning assembly of claim 11, wherein the first direction and second direction are perpendicular to each other and the first orifice and the second orifice connect to each other to form a “T” shaped channel within the hub body.
 13. A method of tensioning a line, comprising: receiving the line within the hub in the first direction; discharging the line out of the hub in a second direction; rotating the hub in the first direction; and overlapping on an exterior of the hub subsequent line received in the first direction as the hub is rotated to wrap the line about the hub.
 14. The method of claim 13, further includes: mating together along mating surfaces a first hub section and a second hub section each having substantially the same structure, and forming a first orifice between the mating surfaces to receive the line within the hub in the first direction.
 15. The method of claim 14, further includes: forming a second orifice to discharge the line from within the hub in the second direction.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving of the line about the hub results in the shortening a length of the line in the first direction.
 17. The method of claim 13, further includes: forming a trough formed on the exterior of the hub, the overlapping line being disposed therein.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the trough includes spacing apart protrusions that encircle the hub.
 19. The method of claim 18, further includes: spacing apart the protrusions on opposite sides of an orifice formed on the hub to receive the line in the first direction. 